NEW YORK – Ten players, including NBA scoring leader Carmelo Anthony, were ejected for fighting during a wild brawl near the end of last night's game between the Denver Nuggets and New York Knicks.

Punches were thrown and players flew into the crowd in the NBA's ugliest scene since Indiana Pacers players fought with Detroit fans on the court and in the stands in 2004.

With the Knicks on the verge of another embarrassing home loss and angry that Denver still had its stars on the floor, Knicks guard Mardy Collins flagrantly fouled the Nuggets' J.R. Smith to trigger the melee.

Knicks coach Isiah Thomas said he told Anthony that he never should have been in the game at the time.

“I just said to him, 'You know, you're up 20, you're up 19 with a minute and half to go, you and (Marcus) Camby really shouldn't be in the game right now,' ” Thomas said. “We had surrendered; those guys shouldn't even be in the game at that point in time.”

This time, it happened at Madison Square Garden, not far from NBA headquarters.

“I feel bad for the league, I feel bad for the Denver Nuggets and the New York Knicks,” Nuggets coach George Karl said. “Very poor display of respecting basketball and respecting the game in the best place in the world to play basketball.”

Anthony appeared to throw one of the punches, and now awaits what will surely be strong punishment from a league still trying to repair its image after the melee in Auburn Hills, Mich.

Anthony scored 34 points before the melee took place with 1:15 left in the Nuggets' 123-100 victory.

Denver led 119-100 when Collins grabbed Smith around the neck as Smith was going in for a breakaway layup. Smith got up and jawed with Collins, and New York's Nate Robinson jumped in to yell at Smith.

Anthony rushed in and pushed Robinson in the neck, triggering the roughest moment, when Robinson and Smith went flying into the stands while fighting with each other. Anthony appeared to throw a punch at Collins, then backed away toward the center of the court.

New York's Jared Jeffries ran from the baseline toward Anthony but was tackled by a Denver player. The brawl stretched to the other end of the court toward the Nuggets bench before coaches and security finally pulled Smith away and restored order.

Camby, Andre Miller, Eduardo Najera, Smith and Anthony were the Nuggets who were ejected; Channing Frye, David Lee, Collins, Robinson and Jeffries were the Knicks who were kicked out.